Every Tom, Dick, and Harry was coming up with a name for the new Skoda hatchback that was going to replace the Skoda Rapid. After all the random guesses, Skoda revealed the name, and it’s "Scala." The automaker chose to go with this word which means ‘stairs’, or ‘ladder’ in Latin.

Why is Skoda Going with Scala?

Earlier this year, Alain Favey, Skoda’s sales and marketing boss confirmed to Autocar that the hatchback would not be called Rapid, and will be taking a new name instead. He said, “How should I put this? Our presence is very humble. With the current Rapid Spaceback, we didn’t manage to come through to convince people that we are a credible competitor in this D segment.” He added that the new car would have completely new styling and technology.

Skoda Is Betting A Lot On The New Scalar

According to Skoda’s boss Bernhard Maier, the Scala represents Skoda’s next step forward in the compact segment. He says it’s “a completely new development that sets standards in terms of technology, safety, and design in this class.” Is this some kind of a trend? The recently launched China-exclusive Kodiaq GT also sports the brand’s name spelled out instead of the logo.

Can It Pull Down The Segment Leaders?

The Scala will be launched with the intent to dominate the hatchback segment, which is currently ruled by the Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Astra and the Ford Focus. Given that this segment is all about volume, Skoda will try to provide a car for the masses with a competitive price-tag, rather than following its general tendency of over-pricing a car. Going forward, Skoda will eliminate the liftback version and concentrate solely on the hatchback

The Little That We Know About The Scala

Talking about the Scala, the five-door hatch from Skoda will use the Volkswagen Group’s MQB A0 platform, which is already used on models like the Volkswagen T-Roc and the Seat Ibiza.

Apart from the Scala, the upcoming Fabia, which is due in 2020, and the automaker’s upcoming, unnamed pseudo-SUV will also share the same underpinnings. Skoda said the architecture will allow the new hatchback to have compact exterior dimensions, generous interior space, and that the car would have numerous innovative assistance systems in that segment. The Scala will also be Skoda’s first to receive a next-generation, “state-of-the-art” infotainment system that will then be rolled out across the range.

What Can We Expect Under The Hood?

Coming to its powertrain setup, the Scala will be offered with a range of gasoline and diesel engines. Among them will be Volkswagen’s 1.0-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine that will be tuned to deliver between 84 and 109 horses. A 1.5-liter gasoline unit is also expected to make its way into the Scala, and it should develop around 148 horses. As of now, no hybrid or electric versions have been announced, and there is no word of any being planned either. Technically, it makes sense because offering these setups will increase the cost of production and will be just too expensive for a hatchback that’s supposed to be competitively priced.

Conclusion

The Rapid was the Czech automaker’s second best-selling car after the Octavia. Skoda sold 211,000 copies of the Rapid in 2017. As for the Scala, Skoda has high hopes from it, and CEO Favey predicts that sales will double very soon. Do you think Skoda can actually be a competitive rival to Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Skoda Vision RS.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Skoda Rapid.

Read our full review on the 2014 Skoda Rapid Spaceback.

Read our full review on the 2013 Skoda Rapid.